Time Based Coding is a comprehensive CD-ROM based interactive course that reviews medical services that are provided and coded based on time spent dispensing the service. OIG continues to monitor time-based codes, looking for errors in time calculation, documentation, and proper use of the codes.

Coders face additional challenges when coding services based on time. Not only must time-based services meet documentation, coding guidelines, and specific medical criteria, but they must also meet the time requirements. This course content will help the course user understand time factors, documentation, coding requirements, and specific medical criteria for CPT codes based on time.

Click here to see the brochure(requires Adobe Acrobat Reader) on Time Based Coding, or continue reading below.Click here to view sample slides from the course (also requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)

The self-paced nature of the course allows you to work at your own pace. This is also an excellent way to satisfy the continuing education provision of the compliance plan of a physician practice or third party billing firm.

Here’s a sampling of what Time Based Codingcovers:

Defining time-based vs. typical-time codes

8 areas most likely to involve time-based codes:

Critical Care

Prolonged and Physician Standby Services

Individual Psychotherapy

Pediatric Critical Care Transport

Individual Counseling for Preventive Medicine

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation: Therapeutic Procedures

Hospital Discharge services

Central Auditory Function services

In each of the 8 areas, the following topics are covered:

About the service — the services provided to the patient and what is involved during the patient encounter

About the codes — reviews the time element involved with the service

Timing — in detail, the time increments, minimum and maximum times, and time calculation

What counts towards time — what type of service time counts towards the time-based service, and what types do not

Documentation — how to document time-based services

Types of time — review of CPT/AMA definitions of time types specifically established to report time-based codes

When to start counting — understanding how to select the correct code for the amount of time (eligible to be counted) spent with the patient

To run Time Based Coding on your computer, you must have a PC with Microsoft Windows 7, 8, or later, and a CD-ROM drive. The course is completely self-contained on CD; Internet connection not needed, and nothing gets loaded onto your hard drive. There are no preapproved CEUs associated with this course.